Nuts, but not peanut butter, linked to reduced mortality risk

Evidence just keeps mounting that regularly eating nuts may be one of the healthiest things you can do. Recently, a large international study found that eating nuts reduced mortality risk across social classes. Now, another study has been released that shows being a habitual nut consumer may make you less likely to die from certain debilitating diseases.

Researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands used data from the ongoing Netherlands Cohort Study, which has been examining the lifestyles and health of Dutch men and women ages 55 to 69 since 1986. Data on their portion size and frequency of intake of nuts and nut butters were collected and compared with data on overall and cause-specific mortality rates.

The researchers found that eating only about half a handful of nuts per day could have significant effects on patients' longevity. Eating nuts was associated with lowered risk of mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Both peanuts and tree nuts had this effect when eaten whole, but peanut butter did not have any significant effect on patient health and longevity, so a peanut butter and jelly sandwich isn't an equally healthy substitute for a handful of nuts.

"It was remarkable that substantially lower mortality was already observed at consumption levels of 15 grammes of nuts or peanuts on average per day (half a handful)," project leader Professor Piet van den Brandt said in a statement. "A higher intake was not associated with further reduction in mortality risk."

For more information about how you can age gracefully, contact us at the Longevity Centres of America today.